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While there are many who prefer the relative peace and solitude of country living, I prefer the city. I'll explain my reasons momentarily, but first I will present my definition of "'the country," for it may not be the same as yours.

In my opinion, the country can include any small town classified as a village. We're talking about towns with maybe one gas station, no fast-food, no name-brand stores, and a population under 1000 people. I worked as a bookkeeper in such a place from 2000-2003. In these places barely visible on the typical highway map, everybody knows everybody else's business. The residents are usually very conservative; so much so that they can be 20 years behind their urban counterparts. If you don't drive a car or truck made by General Motors, Ford, or Chrysler, you are un-American. If you don't listen to country music, you're a radical head-banger. The few (if any) places to shop are closed by 4:30 or 5:00 PM. As a resident of a city of over 60,000 people, tiny towns are about as far-removed from my comfort zone as a tropical island in the Carribean would be to someone living in Barrow, Alaska.

Of course, the country can also be outside of any city limits; just as the name infers. One can find plenty of houses situated miles from nowhere; whether it be on a farm or merely a small spot of land. For those who like to be away from it all, this is undoubtedly an optimum living experience. Crime, congestion, and the comparatively fast-paced life of the city is virtually nonexistant. If this type of environment grabs you, then there is nothing wrong with that.

However, the problem I have with country living is twofold: To begin with, I live in Wisconsin. Six months of winter weather each year is guaranteed, and more often than not, you can count on seven months of snowy, icy roads. The last thing I want to be doing is driving several miles on treacherous, unplowed country roads at 1:00 AM because there is no milk in my refrigerator. Should you roll or slide off into a ditch out in the "boonies," it could be hours before help arrives. In the city, you can at least walk somewhere to warm up while waiting. To summarize, winter weather and country living don't mix unless you have a 4-wheel-drive truck with a snowplow.

And even in favorable weather, who wants to drive miles and miles every time he or she wishes to see a movie, dine out, or go to the mall? For that matter, just what do people in the country do to entertain themselves? Cable TV and internet service is often unavailable.

"Do other things. Take walks. Hold conversations. Read a book," so say proponents of the rural life.

In my thinking, the novelty of such activity would wear thin soon. This is 2009; not 1939. Thanks, but I'll stay in the city.

Learn more about this author, Patrick Sills.
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